Illusion

Kayla Drescher has been performing magic since the age of seven,
and first performed onstage in her second grade talent show. She is
now a professional magician in Los Angeles. She performed a
delightful illusion in season 4 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us on
the CW.

Ghosts have appeared in drama for at least 2,500 years, with
many innovations in stagecraft to make them appear more believable
-- and spooky. In 1862, Professor John Henry Pepper perfected a new
technique that ushered in a new age of special effects.

Sources

Magician Dai Vernon chased down gamblers and cardsharps to learn
their techniques. So when he heard about a man who could perform a
once-thought impossible card sleight, he set out on a quest through
the seedy underworld of Kansas City to find him.

Sources

In 1770, inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen debuted his latest
creation before the court of Maria Theresa of Austria. His chess
playing automaton caused a stir when it appeared to not only move
on its own, but also think and match wits against skilled chess
players. Even though it was all an illusion, its effects...

About the Podcast

Illusion tells true stories from history that explore how our senses can be fooled, and how experiencing illusions is part of what makes us human. New stories arrive on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Our world is full of illusions, and Brian Earl brings them to life through engaging stories about magicians, grifters, artists, and visionaries. Learn more at http://www.illusionpodcast.com.